Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1887-06-29

young lady, the daughter of the de.
ceased, who, naturally enough. wa
perfectly overcome with grief, | ex
planned to her in a few words the OBJ
ject of my visit.
Il am uncertain whether poor pap
had a valise of that description wEer
he left this morning." she said; "bu
possibly you may recognize him from
the photograph" submitting one she
/ took from the table for ny inspection
] experienced strange sense of re,
lief-the features in the photo wert
those of person bearing no resem
blance whatever to the individual who
had left his bag in my charge.
The young lady thanked me heartily
for the trouble / had taken in the mat
Ter; and l left the house of mourning
and returned to the barracks in a very
mystified state of mind.
Gould the owner of the bag be the
thief who was caught In the act OF
plundering the dead mans clothes?n
asked myself, but Immediately dis
missed the idea from my mind, as being
absurd and improbable.
Next day L attended the orderly
room, and received 4 severe admOni.
tion from the commanding officer.
Fortunately fer me, as it happened,
Sir Carnaby had been In plain clothes,
so my offense in the eye of martial law
was of comparatively venial charac.
ter. Immediately afterwards 1 con.
sidered it my duty to report the cir
cumstances attending the valise to the
adjutant, who in turn communicated
with the police authorities at Scotland
Yard; and that evening, pursuant to
instructions received, l had the bag
conveyed to that establishment. After
l had explained how it was placed IN
my charge, it was opened IN my pres
ence by an official, and was found to
contain just suit of clothes and few
newspapers, but no documents OF any
kind, as stated by its owner.
After this the bag ceased to interest
me, as the valueleSs character of Its
contents caused me to speculate less on
the unaceountable conduct OF its pos
Sersor in never returning for it. L may
mention that l read an account in the
evening paper regarding the alleged
thief who had been apprehen1ed on the
Serpentine Bank under the circum-
stances before alluded to. By the
name of Judd he had been taken before
a magistrate and remanded for a week,
III order that inquiries might be made
concerning him.
Some time afterwards / was on
Queens guard, Westminster. I had
just mounted my horse and taken up
position in one of the two boxes facing
Parliament street, when a gentleman
stopped opposite me and scanned me
curiously. Addressing, me, lie said:
Don't you remember me?"
There was no mistaking the voice;
it was that of the owner of the bagl
Otherwise, he was greatly altered, as
he had denuded himself of the luxu-
rant whlskers and mustache which he
wore when saw him previously.
''What has been wrong?" 1 asked.
''Oh. was seized with ft that
morning when came out of the water,
aud was taken home in an unconscious
state. L have been very unweu ever
since, and have left my house for the
first time to-day. 1 made inquiries at
the barracks about YOU; and as the SOL
der l spoke to seemed to know about
the bag left with you, he directed me
here"
"Well, SIR" 1 said, 81 had quite
made up my mind that you were the
gentleman who was drowned that
morning; and when l discovered my
mistake, am almost ashamed TO own
that l took you for the man who was
apprehended on the charge of trying to
plunder the drowned mans clothes"
The gentleman smiled pleasantly and
said: "Ahl 1 read about that. And
now 10 business. l wish to get my
bag at once. L presume you have it
in safe-keeping at the barracks?"
Its much nearer at hand" re.
piled ''just across the street from
here;" and then told him that it was
in the custody of the police authorities
at Scotland Yard.
This information apparently discOn-
certed him.
sit is very awkward indeed" he
said. Il have to catch the six train
for Liverpool, as l wish to sail by the
steamer that leaves tomorrow morning
for New York. Couldn't you come
across with me to get it?"
"You forget that L am on SENTRY" l
replied, ~ won't be relieved until
four; and even then aaren't leave tie
guard; nor would l care to ask permls-
sion to do so. You should 60 at once
TO the Captain of the guard and repre-
sent the case to him; and perhaps, un-
der the circumstances, be will permit
me to accompany you"
Acting on my advice, he proceeded
at once to the officer in command,
leaving me extremely amused at the
fuss he was making about his bag, con-
side,ing all that it was worth.
Soon afterward he returned with a
smiling face, and informed me that the
Captain had acceeded to his request. L
expressed my qualification at this in
teIligence, and added: "Surely, sir, you
have been shaving since L last saw
you?"
"Yes, L was threatened with the re-
currence of a nasty skin complaint to
which l was formerly subject"
During the interval that elapsed until
my period of duty was ended the gem
tleman paced about in most impatient
manner, ever and anon seeming to re-
lieve his feeling by stopping to pat my
horse. At length left my post, and.
dismounting, led my charger to the
stable and handed him over to COM
rade; then, divesting myself of my cul-
rass. was ready to proceed to Scotland
Yard. One of the corporals on guard
received orders to accompany me; so,
to-ether with the gentleman, we
started, and crossing the street reached
the police headquarters in minute or
two. and on making inquiries were
directed to the "Lost Property" depart
meut. We stated our business; and an
official, after receiving an assurance
from me that the applicant was the
right person. speedily produced the
yallse. "Why didn't you see about
this beforePn he asked, addressing the
gentleman.
..Because 1 was too Ill to see about
ANYTHING" was the reply.